Walmart Switches to Virtual Production Methods
Walmart has unveiled a state-of-the-art TV studio within its sprawling Home Office campus in Bentonville, Arkansas, which includes a cutting-edge video wall from Alfalite. The flagship installation consists of a 13x32-foot (10x4-meter) Alfalite ModularPix Pro 1.5 ORIM LED screen, equipped with Brompton processing, serving as the focal point of the studio's virtual production environment.
The stadium-sized video wall encompasses 160 panels and is specifically engineered for seamless integration into extended reality (XR) and virtual production workflows. This allows Walmart's internal broadcast network, Walmart TV (WMTV), to create immersive video content with remarkable flexibility. The wall's curvature provides a resolution of 6400x2560 pixels and benefits from Alfalite's proprietary ORIM technology, ensuring exceptional color reproduction, brightness, and viewing angles of nearly 170 degrees.
The technological setup of WMTV's video wall enables it to be XR-compatible, making it possible for digital elements to merge seamlessly with the physical world. The curved screen displays virtual landscapes or changing scenes in real-time, enabling presenters and cameras to interact effortlessly with computer-generated content.
Speaking on the recent installation, Dave Magnia, Walmart's chief engineer for AV/broadcast engineering, highlighted, "The Alfalite wall sports a 1.5mm pixel pitch, given its ORIM technology. This technology protects the screen from impact and fire damage. ORIM technology also offers an unusual advantage-it widens the viewing angle to close to 170 degrees. The color reproduction and brightness are stunning. Visitors to the studio are regularly awestruck by the screen's image quality. A key advantage is the reduction in downtime when changing physical sets versus virtual ones, a game-changer in our new TV studio. All we need is a few clicks to ready the next virtual set for video projects."
The integration project was made possible through Alfalite's partnership with FOR-A America, ensuring a smooth and timely implementation of the studio's advanced LED display technology.
The new Walmart Home Office campus spans 350 acres and signifies a shift towards sustainable workplace design, prioritizing employee well-being, environmental stewardship, and public access. At its heart lies Sam Walton Hall, a sizable auditorium, conference, and training center that includes a 1,550-seat auditorium, 220 square feet of conference room space, and 60,000 square feet of learning and collaboration areas.
Silvia C. Natal, international sales manager at Alfalite, expressed gratitude to Dave Magnia and FOR-A America, stating, "This project epitomizes Walmart's commitment to innovation and demonstrates the strength of Alfalite's LED solutions in high-profile production environments. Contemplating how our LED walls contribute to such a renowned new space is a source of pride for Alfalite."
With its innovative impact resistance, anti-reflective properties, and enhanced dissipation features, Alfalite's ORIM technology guarantees that the LED wall can withstand prolonged usage in a studio while maintaining exceptional visual performance.
The Alfalite technology featured in the data-and-cloud-computing driven video wall at Walmart's new TV studio offers benefits such as impact resistance, anti-reflective properties, and enhanced dissipation, ensuring the wall can withstand prolonged usage while maintaining exceptional visual performance. The ORIM technology also provides an unusually wide viewing angle of nearly 170 degrees, contributing to the remarkable image quality that Walmart TV (WMTV) can create.
